Blog // Connect Ohio

06/21/17

TECH WEEK:Why Better Mapping is Critical to Getting Broadband Access to More People

By Jessica Denson

Connected Nation Testifies on Capitol Hill
For nearly two decades, Connected Nation has worked to bring internet access to families and businesses in both rural and urban settings, and, as a result, was recently asked to testify before the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. That’s because the focus of the hearing was on “Defining and Mapping Broadband Coverage in America.”
“We’ve got to have accurate maps,” Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) said during the June 21 hearing. “I have professors outside of Virginia Tech who don’t have service at all. I have huge sections geographically that the FCC thinks it’s serving but that...

10/27/16

FCC Using Form 477 Data to Close the Mobile Broadband Gap in Rural America

By Matt Diaz

Last month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced improved analysis of coverage data that will help the FCC realize its ambitious goal of universal broadband and advanced mobile coverage across the United States.
In order to achieve this goal, the FCC created the Mobility Fund as a part of the Connect America Fund. The Mobility Fund is a universal service support mechanism dedicated exclusively to mobile service. However, in order for the Mobility Fund to improve coverage in underserved wireless mobile service areas, the FCC needs detailed coverage data.
Largely due to access to more reliable data from provider-filed Forms...

08/04/16

FCC Releases Broadband and Health Interactive Mapping Tool

By Amanda Murphy

The Federal Communications Commission’s Connect2Health Task Force has launched a broadband and health interactive map. The new tool, titled Mapping Broadband Health in America, allows users to analyze broadband and health data visually, and at a national, state, and county level. The map is intended for use by both public and private sectors, and local communities, as a tool to drive discussion, to identify opportunities and gaps in connectivity and health care, and to assist broadband health policies and digital health solutions.
Users have the ability to generate customized maps that display broadband access, adoption, and speeds along...

08/04/16

FCC CAF Offer to Ohio Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers

By Tom Koutsky

In a public notice from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the final version of the Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM) was released. The FCC has offered 19 small, rural Ohio local telephone companies, including Horizon and TDS, $55 million in subsidies over 10 years to upgrade their broadband networks. This next phase of the Connect America Fund targets over 7,000 home and business locations in areas served by these rural companies that do not have 10 Mbps download/1 Mbps upload broadband service available today. The FCC’s offer would replace subsidies these companies receive to provide voice-grade service. The...